Can the Houston Texans hold on? At 9-3 and in complete control of the AFC South, that shouldn’t be a question. But given its precarious injury situation, Houston is probably fair game at this point. Already down to third-string quarterback T.J. Yates — only an honorable-mention All-ACC choice as a senior at North Carolina last season — and with wide receiver Andre Johnson back on the shelf, at least temporarily, the Texans have some issues.
Johnson reportedly is day-to-day with a mild left hamstring strain. That’s good news. But considering Houston’s star wide receiver missed six games with a severe right hamstring strain earlier this season, you have to remain skeptical. Johnson tried to chase down a long Yates pass in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against Atlanta. When he dropped to the ground in the middle of that route clutching the back of his leg, the crowd at Reliant Stadium had a mini-meltdown, its audible groan of panic going up well before the pass fell incomplete. Johnson’s teammates and coaches didn’t look in any better frame of mind.
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Without quarterbacks Matt Schaub (right foot) or Matt Leinart (broken left collarbone) the rest of the season, Houston can’t afford any more injuries. It must rely on an improved defense, which switched to the 3-4 this season under new coordinator Wade Phillips. As long as that group remains healthy — this is the same team that also lost its punter for the season thanks to an ACL tear last week, so no guarantees — the Texans have a shot. They are tied for the AFC lead with 23 forced turnovers.
“This is what the Houston defense has been doing, coming up with the takeaways,” NBC football analyst Tony Dungy said. “They needed [the Atlanta] win because Tennessee is quietly playing a little bit better.”
Indeed, the Titans (7-5) are making a postseason push. The two division rivals meet in the regular-season finale in Houston and easily could see each other in the first round of the playoffs, too. The Texans have a two-game lead over Denver for the No. 3 seed. Tennessee is in a four-way race for No. 6.
– Brian McNally
